Octogenarian Vatsala Parthasarathy has spent a lifetime reading and singing Subramania Bharati’s songs. She shares its connection to her life and how it established ideas of independence.
Subramania Bharati (1882-1921) is to Tamil Nadu what Rabindranath Tagore is to Bengal. He was a poet, singer, freedom fighter, writer, journalist, social reformer, and patriot. As children, we were taught Bharati’s patriotic songs and danced in groups while singing these. We danced Kummi, a folk dance where we would clap our hands and form circles, and Kolattam, where we would strike small painted sticks together. I have enjoyed Bharati’s songs from the age of five, and they have enriched my life in a number of ways.
The very first song I learnt was about the Tamil land. ‘When I hear the name Thamizh Nadu, it is sweet like honey to my ears. When I hear it is my fatherland, it fills me with strength’. This song contains many stanzas and is suitable for Kummi. When schools were shut during the Second World War, we used to dance Kummi to this song everyday, our hearts full of pride and joy. Even now it makes me happy when I remember those days, singing about the glory of Tamil Nadu, its rich culture, traditions, its emphasis on knowledge-based education, its many poets like Kambar and Tiruvalluvar.
Bharati composed in Tamil but he was also proficient in English, Sanskrit and Hindi, having spent some years in Kashi, as Benares was known then. It is unfortunate that he is not well known in other parts of India, even though his vision encompassed the whole of Bharat, eulogizing its diversity, varied cultures and languages. His songs evoke nationalist fervour. One of his most popular patriotic songs proclaims, ‘If you hold Bharat as your country, fight against slavish fear and suffering’.
Long before independence, Bharati composed the beautiful poem ‘Viduthalai! Viduthalai!’ meaning Freedom for Everyone. He dreamt of building an egalitarian society by doing away with caste, class and creed. He shunned the cruel social customs practiced against women in Indian society and called for change through his songs and writing. Bharati believed in the empowerment of women through education because the world can never progress, he said, without the participation of women in all walks of life. He wanted women to stand shoulder to shoulder with men and take part in the freedom struggle.
Bharati with his wife Chellamma, Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Incidentally, his loving wife Chellamma had to manage the home on a shoestring budget. Her husband could not tolerate the poverty around and used to give away anything and everything he had. She was spellbound whenever he sang his compositions, which just flowed from his heart. She was a willing partner of this great freedom fighter and stoically stood with him throughout his life.
His love of nature, towards beasts, birds and fellow human beings knew no bounds. About the common crow he sings, ‘Looking at your wings, Nanda Lala, I see your dark colour, Nanda Lala!’ meaning he sees Lord Krishna in the common bird.
Bharati is regarded as the King among Tamil poets. His poems set to music are enjoyed by ordinary folk as well as connoisseurs. Even a small village in Tamil Nadu knows about Bharati and sings his songs. Such is his popularity in Tamil Nadu that in my younger days, I have noticed even a humble rickshaw-puller singing Bharati’s songs.
His poems and writings instill a deep sense of love for the country and set it within the modern world. He sang about industrialization – ‘We will build industries and ships’ – what a progressive idea for that time! In another song he glorifies the charkha. In those days many families had a charkha at home and were proud to spin yarn. It connected us to our simple rural folk and was a symbol of the freedom movement. All of us responded to Gandhiji’s call and respected his wish. ‘When we wear clothes made of khaddar we look beautiful,’ sang Bharati.
At a young age I witnessed the freedom struggle led by our great leaders and later our Independence Day celebrations of 1947. Bharati’s songs were part of it. They ignited in us a sense of patriotism in those times and united the people. Renowned Carnatic musicians would include a couple of Bharati’s songs in their concerts. M S Subbulakshmi used to end her concerts with Bharati’s ‘Glory to the Tamil language and its people, Glory to Bharat, the gem among nations, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!’ D K Pattammal and M.L Vasanthakumari have also popularised many of Bharati’s songs and the musicians of today continue to sing them.
Bharati died at a young age long before India attained independence, but his vision of a free India is remembered by posterity through his poems and songs. I feel it is our duty and responsibility to convey this vision to our younger generation in the present situation.
Cover Image: Demonstration against British Rule in India
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Also read: An Era Of Gandhian Ideals: An Octogenarian Remembers The Freedom Movement
About The Author
Vatsala Parthasarathy, 85, remembers a time when life was lived by simple Gandhian ideals. She cherishes the memory of the great leaders of our freedom struggle and feels they have shaped her life and helped her play a positive role as a homemaker.
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